Highlights of Messina, Italy - Express Walking Tour

Due to its location, Messina has always been one of the most important cities of Sicily, as the first landing place for those who came to it from the mainland. The hills surrounding and protecting the city were populated since the prehistoric age. In the late VIII century BC, Messina became a proper Greek colony called "Zankle'', a local name derived from a word that describes the shape of its harbor, similar to a sickle. Under the Normans rule, Messina was an essential commercial area of the Mediterranean and kept this role until the XIV century. The Spanish Kings of the XVI century reinforced and expanded its port. Sadly, the city doesn't entirely preserve the vestiges of that glorious past due to a catastrophic earthquake that in 1908 seriously damaged the ancient beautiful buildings, including the precious Cathedral. Messina was reborn from its ashes in the XX century and restored most of its historical monuments, embellishing the city by creating new elegant buildings and incredible artworks too.

-I'll pick you up at your preferred spot and bring you to the Saint Mary Alemanna church, one of the few Gothic building in Sicily , built under Frederick of Swabia II. -Next, we'll visit the precious church of Saint Mary of Catalans, one of the few originals Normand buildings preserved from the earthquake. -Then we'll pass through the famous "4 fountains" crossway and reach the elegant XX century theater "Vittorio Emanuele" with its outstanding ceiling representing the "Colapesce" legend, painted by Renato Guttuso. -We'll also go through Piazza Antonello with its Liberty-style arcade. -Afterwards, we'll get to the Cathedral and its square with the beautiful "Orione" fountain. -Around midday, we'll watch the popular show of the bell Tower, containing the biggest and most complex mechanical and astronomical clock in the world, designed by the firm Ungerer of Strasbourg in 1933. -At the end of the tour, I'll accompany you either back to your preferred spot or a restaurant/cafe. (Customizable itinerary).